Mobility assisting devices

Abstract

A mobility assisting device which includes a vertical support structure and a substantially planar base structure mounted to the vertical support structure so as to be articulatable relative thereto. Thus, the base remains parallel to the ground as the user rests upon the device and moves relative to the ground. Such a structure maximizes the stability of the device and minimizes the likelihood of slippage due to uneven, moist, icy or otherwise torturous terrain. The patient supporting structure is mounted to the vertical support structure so as to be pivotal relative thereto so as to avoid the translation of pressure points under the patient's arms and rubbing between the upper end of the crutch and the underarm. Further, the vertical support structure and the base structure are preferably spring mounted to one another so as to be urged into perpendicular relation.

I claim: 
     
       1. A mobility assisting device comprising: a substantially planer base support structure;   a vertical support structure pivotally coupled to said base support structure;   support means adapted to support at least a portion of an individual's weight through engagement with the individual's underarm, said support means being pivotally coupled to said vertical support structure whereby, in use, said base support structure and said support means pivot relative to said vertical support structure so as to remain substantially parallel to the ground surface;   said vertical support structure comprising first and second vertical support rods, said vertical support rods having first and second ends, said first ends being pivotally coupled to said substantially planer base support structure, said support means being pivotally coupled at each end thereof to said second ends of said vertical support rods.   
     
     
       2. The mobility assisting device of claim 1, further comprising a hand grip element coupled to said vertical support structure. 
     
     
       3. The mobility assisting device of claim 2, wherein said vertical support structure lies in a first vertical plane and said hand grip element is defined in a second vertical plane which is lateral offset with respect to said first vertical plane. 
     
     
       4. A mobility assisting device as in claim 1, further comprising a hand grip element pivotally coupled to said vertical support structure. 
     
     
       5. A mobility assisting device as in claim 4, wherein said vertical support structure lies in a first vertical plane and said hand grip element is defined in a second vertical plane which is laterally offset with respect to said first vertical plane. 
     
     
       6. A mobility assisting device as in claim 1, wherein said underarm support cross bar element is vertically adjustable relative to said vertical support structure. 
     
     
       7. A mobility assisting device as in claim 1, further including a friction enhancing elastomeric element mounted to said base support structure so as to extend across at least a portion of a bottom surface thereof. 
     
     
       8. A mobility assisting device as in claim 7, wherein said elastomeric element has a traction increasing surface configuration. 
     
     
       9. A mobility assisting device as in claim 1, further comprising tension producing means engaged with said planer base support structure and engaged with said vertical support structure for urging said base support structure and said vertical support structure into a predetermined angular orientation. 
     
     
       10. A mobility assisting device as in claim 9, wherein said base support structure includes first and second end rod elements and first and second side rod elements, said end rod elements having first and second longitudinal ends, said side rod elements having first and second longitudinal ends, said end rods being coupled at each end thereof to a respective end of each of said side rods, each said vertical support rod being pivotally coupled at said first end thereof to a respective end rod element. 
     
     
       11. A mobility assisting device as in claim 10, and further comprising a cross rod element mounted so as to extend between said first and second side rod elements, said tension producing means being coupled to said cross rod element and operatively coupled to said first and second vertical support rods. 
     
     
       12. A mobility assisting device comprising: a substantially planer base support structure;   a vertical support structure pivotally coupled to said base support structure;   an underarm support cross bar element pivotally coupled to said vertical support structure whereby, in use, said base support structure and said underarm support cross bar element pivot relative to said vertical support structure so as to remain substantially parallel to the ground surface;   said vertical support structure comprising first and second vertical support rods, said vertical support rods having first and second ends, said first ends being pivotally coupled to said substantially planer base support structure, said underarm support cross bar element being pivotally coupled at each end thereof to said second ends of said vertical support rods; and   further comprising a hand grip element having first and second longitudinal ends and being pivotally coupled at each end thereof to a respective vertical support rod.   
     
     
       13. A mobility assisting device as in claim 12, wherein said underarm support cross bar element is pivotally coupled to first and second vertically extending elements, said vertically extending elements being slidably coupled to said vertical support rods, respectively, and means for fixedly coupling said vertically extending elements to said vertical support rods so as to fix said underarm support cross bar element at a predetermined height. 
     
     
       14. A mobility assisting device as in claim 12, and further comprising tension producing means engaged with said planar base support structure and engaged with said vertical support structure for urging said base support structure and said vertical support structure into a predetermined angular orientation. 
     
     
       15. A mobility assisting device comprising: a substantially planer base support structure;   a vertical support structure pivotally coupled to said base support structure, said vertical support structure having a longitudinal axis in a first vertical plane; and   an underarm support cross bar element pivotally coupled to said vertical support structure whereby, in use, said base support structure and said underarm support cross bar element pivot relative to said vertical support structure so as to remain substantially parallel to the ground surface, said underarm support being defined in a second vertical plane which is laterally offset with respect to said first vertical plane, so that the longitudinal axis of said vertical support structure is not in the plane of said under arm support.   
     
     
       16. A mobility assisting device comprising: a substantially planer base support structure;   a vertical support structure pivotally coupled to said base support structure;   support means adapted to support at least a portion of an individual's weight through engagement with the individual's hand, said support means being pivotally coupled to said vertical support structure whereby, in use, said base support structure and said support means pivot relative to said vertical support structure so as to remain substantially parallel to the ground surface;   said vertical support structure comprising first and second vertical support rods, said vertical support rods having first and second ends, said first ends being pivotally coupled to said substantially planer base support structure, said support means being pivotally coupled at each end thereof to said second ends of said vertical support rods.   
     
     
       17. A mobility assisting device as in claim 16, further including a friction enhancing elastomeric element mounted to said base support structure so as to extend across at least a portion of a bottom surface thereof. 
     
     
       18. A mobility assisting device as in claim 17, wherein said elastomeric element has a traction increasing surface configuration. 
     
     
       19. A mobility assisting device as in claim 16, wherein said cross bar member support means is slidably coupled to said vertical support structure. 
     
     
       20. A mobility assisting device as in claim 16, further comprising tension producing means engaged with said planer base support structure and engaged with said vertical support structure so as to urge said base support structure and vertical support structure into a predetermined angular orientation. 
     
     
       21. A mobility assisting device as in claim 20, wherein said tension producing means urges said base member and said vertical support member into a substantially perpendicular disposition relative to one another. 
     
     
       22. A mobility assisting device comprising: a base member;   a vertical support structure pivotally coupled to said base member;   an underarm support member one of rotatably and pivotally coupled to said vertical support structure;   a hand grip element one of rotatably and pivotally coupled to said vertical support structure, said hand grip element being mounted so as to one or rotate and pivot in a vertical plane which is one of parallel to and coincident with a vertical plane of said vertical support structure; and   at least one tension producing means engaged with said base member and operatively engaged with said vertical support structure so as to urge said base member and said vertical support structure into a predetermined angular orientation, a central longitudinal axis of said tension producing means being disposed at an angle of between about 0° and 180° with respect to a central longitudinal axis of said vertical support structure.   
     
     
       23. A mobility assisting device as in claim 22, wherein said hand grip element comprises a cross bar member rotatably mounted within a substantially circular element pivotally mounted to said vertical support structure. 
     
     
       24. A mobility assisting device as in claim 22, wherein said underarm support member comprises an underarm support element rotatably mounted within a substantially circular element, said substantially circular element being pivotally coupled to said vertical support structure.